For Paula Yarrow and Timothy Conibear of Waves for Change, the key to youth mental wellbeing lies in simplicity: play, connection, and care. Founded in South Africa in 2011, the organization’s Take 5 model uses sports and creative play to create safe, structured spaces where young people can connect, build resilience, and experience belonging. The program has grown from a local surf therapy initiative into a global framework now used by partners in more than 18 countries, including schools, refugee camps, and humanitarian programs.

Through their work, Yarrow and Conibear are challenging assumptions that complex social problems require complex solutions. They emphasize that prevention begins with small, consistent actions by trusted adults and peers. Their approach focuses on:

• Training local coaches and mentors in nine caregiving skills shared by social workers and clinicians.
• Embedding those skills into sports and art activities already operating in communities.
• Partnering with governments and humanitarian agencies to adapt the model to local contexts.
• Measuring outcomes such as self-regulation, resilience, sleep, and social connectedness.

Evidence from pilot trials suggests that adolescents who regularly participate in Take 5 sessions show lower rates of depression and anxiety and stronger feelings of confidence and belonging. In South Sudan, for example, trained “inspirators” used the model to build trust with incarcerated youth, leading to 300 children being released from detention and reconnected to social services.

Measuring long-term change, maintaining fidelity across partners, and convincing funders of the value of prevention all remain difficult. Yet they are convinced that creating spaces for play, care, and belonging is among the most powerful investments society can make in young people’s mental health.